Residence Card & Address Registration in Japan: Your First 14 Days

Your residence card

Mid- to long-term residents, such as workers, students and spouses, get a residence card. At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chūbu, New Chitose, Hiroshima and Fukuoka airports it is handed over at immigration when you land. Elsewhere it is posted to you once you register your address.

The card shows your status of residence, how long you can stay and whether you may work. Anyone aged 16 or over must carry it at all times, and the police can ask to see it.

Since 14 June 2026, you can choose to combine your residence card and My Number Card into one card, called a tokutei zairyū card. Keeping two separate cards is still fine.

Registering your address

Within 14 days of moving into your home, take your residence card and passport to the city or ward office and file a moving-in notice (tennyū todoke). The office writes your address on the back of your card and adds you to the resident register (jūmin kihon daichō).

At the same visit, you can usually join National Health Insurance and the National Pension, and register children for school. Offices in big cities can be busy in March and April, so go early in the day.

Your certificate of residence

Once registered, you can get a certificate of residence (jūminhyō) for a few hundred yen. Banks, employers, phone companies and landlords often ask for one. With a My Number Card, many convenience stores can print it too.

When things change

If you move, file a moving-out notice (tenshutsu todoke) at your old city and a moving-in notice at your new one within 14 days. Moving within the same city needs only a change-of-address notice (tenkyo todoke).

Changes such as a new employer or school must be reported to the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days, usually online. Renew your status of residence before it expires. You can apply up to three months before the end date.

Handy for your move

Getting from the airport

Book your airport train or bus ticket ahead, so the first trip to your new home is easy.

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Tips

Bring your passport as well as your residence card to the city office. Some offices also ask for your rental contract.
Ask for two or three copies of your jūminhyō on your first visit. You will need them for the bank, your phone and your employer.
Many offices have English forms and some have interpreters or translation tablets. Ask at the information desk.
When you leave Japan for good, file a moving-out notice and hand in your residence card at the airport.

Words you will see

在留カード zairyū kādo: residence card
転入届 tennyū todoke: moving-in notice
転出届 tenshutsu todoke: moving-out notice
住民票 jūminhyō: certificate of residence
区役所・市役所 kuyakusho / shiyakusho: ward office / city office
在留資格 zairyū shikaku: status of residence

Next step My Number and the My Number Card

Sources: Immigration Services Agency of Japan; Basic Resident Registration Act. Rules and fees can change and vary by city. Check with your city office or the official service before you go.